POLICE had to be called in twice when friction between rival groups from two Heywood secondary schools threatened to boil over.

Trouble erupted on two evenings last week as pupils filed through the gates of St Joseph's RC High School on their way home after the day's lessons.

Dozens of Siddal Moor Sports College pupils gathered around the St Joseph's school entrance at Pot Hall and on the East Lancashire Railway bridge overlooking the school drive.

Staff from both Siddal Moor and St Joseph's rushed to the scene on each occasion and police were called in to calm the situation.

Heywood's police chief, Inspector Angela Bradley, said names and addresses of 12 youths had been taken and police officers would be speaking to their parents. Some of the troublemakers were escorted home by police.

She said: "This was not a major incident, but we are not prepared to tolerate any kind of intimidating behaviour.

"It causes us great concern, particularly in the light of two recent fatalities at schools in other parts of the country."

The deputy head of Siddal Moor, Clive Rotheram, said that because the schools were so close, there was sometimes friction between groups of pupils, usually caused by some incident which had happened out of school.

Staff have taken a tough line with pupils at both schools and they have been lectured in assembly.

Mr Rotheram says teachers at the two schools are also liaising closely to find ways of dealing with the problem.

He said: "You have to remember that some Siddal Moor pupils go home past St Joseph's. It is very difficult to move everyone on because some Siddal Moor pupils might be waiting for a younger brother or sister at St Joseph's."

St Joseph's deputy head Chris Ainsworth said he believed the two incidents had had the potential to develop into very serious incidents and that is why police were called in.

At morning assembly, he praised pupils for staying calm but warned them not to retaliate to provocation.

He told them: "I am proud of the way you continued on your way home and refused to rise to the bait. That is the best way to handle those kind of situations."